• Neurodiversity Toolkit shortlisted for GM Health and Care Champion Awards
• Creators of the toolkit are finalists in the Equalities Champion category
• Toolkit is a guide to start conversations around neurodiversity and empower staff

The creators of a Neurodiversity Toolkit at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have been shortlisted for their inclusivity work in the GM Health and Care Champion Awards 2024.

Jody Petersen, a Practice Educator, and Sean Griffiths, a Plaster Technician, created the toolkit as a guide for staff to start conversations around neurodiversity and how reasonable adjustments can be made to working environments to ensure every member of staff is empowered in their role.

The duo are now finalists in the Equalities Champion category, with the winners set to be announced on Thursday 11 July 2024.

Jody said it was a lovely surprise to be nominated alongside Sean:

I’m in awe of his work and I have been really lucky to work with him. There are so many people working to increase awareness and improve the experience of neurodivergent staff, students, and patients in different ways.

“I hope that staff, managers and educators can use the toolkit to learn more about neurodiversity, to better understand how simple changes in communication and practices can enhance our service delivery and working environment.

“By removing barriers and supporting difficulties, I hope we will start to see people’s strengths and the value that every individual can bring to the care of our patients and service users.

Hospitals and healthcare settings can be a challenging place for neurodivergent staff due to the design of buildings and environments, the processes and systems that are used, and sometimes the nature of the service.

Sean added:

At first I was stunned at being nominated, but I’ve been even more blown away by at the amount of colleagues wishing us good luck.

“The toolkit and the starting up of the Neurodiversity Support Group has been a great step forward and I hope we can make a difference to staff and patients.

The regional awards are organised by NHS Greater Manchester to recognise the exemplary contributions from our whole health and care workforce has announced its 2024 shortlist and the stories are as inspirational as ever.

More than 500 nominations were received this year for 13 different categories, including Leadership, Innovation and Community Champion.

James Mawrey, Director of People and Deputy Chief Executive at the trust, said:

Jody and Sean richly deserve this recognition for their brilliant work to increase awareness about neurodiversity in the workplace and encourage us all to have open conversations about the changes we can make so that everyone can thrive.

“Here at Bolton we champion diversity and celebrate the unique skill sets of each and every individual, which makes all the difference when it comes to providing the best level of care for all of our communities.

“We encourage all of our colleagues to come together and generate new ideas and pave the way for positive change, and it’s fantastic to see these ideas come to life. A huge congratulations to Jody and Sean.

Find out more about the toolkit and the work that is taking place to support staff at work on our website.